The Girl With the violin

Episode 4

Diana almost jumped out of her skin when she heard the door open. Anger clouded her face immediately as Anthony pushed her off. She felt even more humiliated when she saw the devilish smile that played on Fred's face.

“I am sorry to interrupt you boss but they are around. The elders are around and they are in the Square”

Anthony nodded and pushed Diana away. He had to go. The elders were the friends of his father, more or less like a mediator as they were always there to inform Anthony of his father as well as his plans. Anthony hurriedly walked out of the room.

“By the time I return, I want you out of my office” He announced finally before walking out. Fred let out a mockery smile before running after his boss.

The Square was a room that was not too far from Anthony's office. No one had ever been there aside Anthony and the four elders. It was a secret room where he usually had meetings with the elders. No one ever knew how the elders always got into the room as the door to the room opens only with Anthony’s fingerprint.

Whenever they arrived, they would ring Anthony’s phone which was always with Fred.

Several thoughts ran through Anthony’s mind. Why would they be there? What did they want? Had something happened? He could not stop the rhetorical questions that continually popped up in his mind.

Just then, his phone rang. It was his mother. His mother always had the habit of monitoring him every minute and second. She could call him a thousand times a day like she would not exist if he was not present with her.

“Mom” His lips almost curved into a smile when he picked the call but just like always, his smile paused halfway. It was like an abomination for him to smile as no one has ever seen him smile. He shook his head as he walked slowly to the Square.

“Mother, that is not possible. I already have one. You know Fred works with me, if you want me to hire her, what would I do to Fred? Fire him?”

At the sound of this, Fred's eyes widened as he immediately began to pray silently. Him? Get fired? How would he survive? How would he take care of his pregnant wife and their daughter? He was filled with rage and hate immediately for Fred's mother.

“Two isn't too much. You can have a woman by your side. I mean a female personal assistant my your side. You know, since you do not have a girlfriend anymore, you know… she can also service your other ‘needs’” His mother answered through the receiver. She ensured to place an emphasis on the need.

“Mother! What do you mean? Do not tell me you are trying to set me up with a lady whom you believe something might spark up. If I need to make love, you know I can get it with whoever I like. I am not interested” He shook his head.

Fred heaved a sigh of relief as he hoped his boss would not agree to his mother’s condition. Knowing her son too well, Fred's mother began to plead and of course, tried to emotionally blackmail him into doing her wish.

“Alright, mother. You can tell her to resume tomorrow. I am doing this for you mom” He shook his head as his mother appreciated him over and over again, praising him for being a good son despite being her only child. As soon as she was done, he ended the call. As soon as he ended the call, he could see Fred walk faster like he was in a hurry.

“They have no choice” Anthony muttered with arrogance as he walked, hands in his pocket to the Square. As soon as they got to the Square, Fred turned to leave. Only the four elders who were all between the age of seventy to seventy five and Anthony were the only ones permitted to enter.

Occasionally, they would come to see him whenever something serious or urgent came up.

As soon as he walked into the room, the four old men stood up.

“I am sorry I am late, I had to take care of something” He explained more like explaining to the air as Anthony believed he owed no one an explanation. No one cared either.

They bowed in unison as they settled down together.

“So what do we have for today?”

“Have you seen your father lately?” The oldest man in the room questioned, he seemed like he was in his mid seventies. Although he did not look so much like it, his grey hair, brushed to the back gave him away.

“Father is where he is and I am where I am. I do not want to have anything to do with him. Can we skip him? What do we have for today?” His stern gaze that was fixated was on the old man was diverted to the remaining three people that sat on the table.

“Well, your father…..”

“My father again” He looked at the second man who was talking. His brows furrowed even more. “With all due respect, if this meeting is all about my father, I am going to leave. I came here because I believed you were going to talk about our customers or something but should this be….”

“Your father is dead” The third man cut in quickly. Anthony aused as he looked at them, one after the other, trying to decipher what he had just heard. The environment was silent that even if a pin dropped, anyone could hear it.

“And?” He questioned as he sat back, relaxed. He just wanted to be sure. The four elders looked at themselves in surprise. Of course, he was a man but at least, he was suppose to show some form of remorse or somehow show he was hurt. Of course, the man in question was his father.

“Did you hear us?” The first man could not help but question again. A hint of surprise on his face. He looked at the other men to be sure he was not the only one surprised.

“That Alvin is dead?” A small smile spread on his face. “Of course” He stood up and walked to the wine shelf and pulled four glasses alongside a wine. Their mouth was opened wide agape in shock as no one had expected it. That solidified their claim of him being heartless but the last thing they had expected of him was to be indifferent to his father’s death.

“It calls for celebration. You should all be happy, shouldn’t you?” Seeing the expression of surprise and shock on their face, he smiled even wider as he poured the wine into the glasses. “The moment Alvin left my mum and I, he is no longer one of us” A devilish smile played on his face. “But thank goodness, nature has given him what he deserves”.

“Well…we got some news for you. Your father wanted to explain something to you but unfortunately, his life was cut short. Just like he knew he was going to die soon, he handed over his business to you…”

The smile on Anthony’s face vanished as he wanted to listen to what they have to say. Was he hearing right.

“He handed the business to you as he wanted you to control everything. However, we heard he handed everything to Jay to give you once he locates you.”

“Really? Perhaps, when next I see Jay, he would inform me. Has Alvin's corpse being buried?” He questioned as he pulled out a pack of cigarette, taking just a piece and lighting it.

“Yes. He was cremated six months ago”

“Six months ago?” Anthony questioned, sitting right. Was he sure he heard them well? When then did he die?

“Your father died seven months ago. From news reaching us, your father handed everything to Jay. He asked him to hand everything over to you when he sees you”

“Hold on, what are you saying? Alvin died about seven months ago and we just got to know? Jay had been coming here frequently, informing me of the hurtful things he claimed my father had been saying about me. As a matter of fact, he came visiting last week and informed me to be careful as my father had planned to kill me, what is going on? What is Jay up to?” He threw the cigarette away in anger as he stood up quickly, pacing up and down.

“It only means a thing.”

Out of anger, he stormed out of the room. Again, he was betrayed. He didn’t even wait for Fred to come out before he dashed into his car. He opened the door and began to speed off. His mother was going to be so disappointed. Even though she was not on good terms with her husband, the last thing she had expected was to see him die. She was going to be so hurt.

Looking around to be sure there was no one watching, an old man who hid his face under an hoodie picked up his phone as he watched Anthony leave. He quickly picked his phone and dialed a number.

“He knows”.